Similarly, readers' comments reveal that the roads aren't an out-and-out war zone after all. From the cyclist who was flagged down by a trucker in the cold - only to be offered a handkerchief to blow their nose, through to the SUV driver who stops to check on a cyclist after a near collision with someone else - it's clear that there are plenty of people willing and able to coexist on our busy roads.

Which begs the question - if there really is so much love out there, why does the common narrative seem like there's a constant battle going on? Sure - we're more likely to remember threats to our life than we are a friendly wave, or a common courtesy - but shouldn't we all do just a little more to also remember, acknowledge and encourage mutual respect?

Maybe we're all a little guilty of indulging in our favorite 'war stories' of the SUV that ran us off the road; the motorist that opened a door in our face; or those b******d bike thieves. While these stories may be fun, or even therapeutic, to recount as we blow off some steam - they do also fuel the sense of us against them. Next time you're telling someone about your fantasy of revenge involving a ulock, and a pristine paint job - stop and think - is there another, more calming story that's also worth telling?

As Robbins suggests - we can also do our part by behaving with courtesy, respect and mindfulness. In fact, Robbins almost makes cycling in the city sound like a practice in meditation and compassion:

The business of making your way – of seeing what's coming; of catching the eye of someone on the pavement in advance and either slowing slightly to let them cross or speeding up a little not to delay them crossing; of moving quickly and purposefully and mindfully enough to work with the traffic – feels delightfully skilled and grown-up.

I must say I've always felt the same way - while a hard and fast ride through traffic can be its own thrill, there is something calming about a more measured and intelligent approach to negotiating traffic. Come to think of it, it's not unlike hypermiling in a car - seeking a more complete union between rider/driver and machine - rather than merely squeezing the life out of it for the fastest possible ride.

Given all the insane stories out there of cyclists being shot for riding with a kid, or drunk motorists who believe they should "get a medal" for killing a cyclist, two wheeled commuters may be forgiven for being a little